"The King of Spain's daughter," she quoted, "Came to visit me, And all for the love Of my little nut-tree." The other laughed also, as a young man in the uniform of the Preobrajenski Guards approached to claim the girl.

"Even a nut-tree may be a shelter in a storm," he said.
"Of course I promise, Quentin," she said.

"Au revoir.

Soon I will come and take you to supper, and we will talk of nothing but nut-trees." He watched the two leave the room, her gown glowing like a tongue of fire in that shadowy archway.

Then he slowly rose to his feet, for he thought that for a little he would watch the dancing.